Delight as new Wymondham library opens

PUBLISHED: 09:46 11 November 2008 | UPDATED: 14:44 14 July 2010

The wait was over for the people of Wymondham yesterday as the town's new £2m library opened its doors.

The landmark building on Back Lane is twice the size of the previous library and houses a large children's collection, 11 computers, a reading area with sofas, a hot-drinks machine and 5,000 new books.

The wait was over for the people of Wymondham this week as their new £2m library opened its doors.

The landmark building in Back Lane is twice the size of the previous library and houses a large children's collection, 11 computers, a reading area with sofas, a hot drinks machine and 5,000 new books.

The building is fully wheelchair accessible and, thanks to the extra floorspace, will be able to host more events and exhibitions. It was opened by Norfolk County Council chairman Wyndham Northam, who was introduced by council leader and member for Wymondham Daniel Cox.

Children and teachers from Robert Kett Junior School, Ashleigh Infant School, Browick Road Infant School and Wymondham High School were invited to the ceremony and had a first look inside the building before the doors were opened to the public.

John Gretton, council cabinet member for cultural services, said: “I am completely bowled over by the new library. Not only is it a very impressive building that adds to the character of the town but it has clearly been designed to be as welcoming, comfortable and convenient to the people of Wymondham as possible.”

The library was funded by the county council. The building's distinctive

fan-shaped design is the work of

the council-owned NPS Property Consultants, and building work was done by Morgan Ashurst.

Before designing and equipping the library, the council asked local people for their views on what they would like to see in the new building. A representative group for people with disabilities was consulted throughout, and the library features a disabled-access toilet and a computer workstation at wheelchair-accessible height.

Self-service machines will be available to users of the library service in Wymondham for the first time, allowing them to issue and return borrowed items, and there will be

an out-of-hours drop-box for all returns.

Library staff, who have transferred from the former library at historic Becket's Chapel, will be available to show visitors the new facilities and technology.

The new library will be open on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 9am-6pm; Wednesday from 9am-1pm and Friday from 9am-8pm, and on Saturday it will stay open for an extra three hours, opening at 9am and closing at 4pm.

It has been supported by Wymondham Town Council, South Norfolk Council, the Central Hall Trustees and Wymondham Town Football Club.

Books on Wheels is a service offered by the WRVS for the benefit of people who live locally but who, for one reason or another, cannot get to the library. To find out more contact Barbara Wilkinson on 01953 602093.